What would be the difference in using cocoa powder and chocolate in a chocolate cake recipe?

Never tried chocolate for a chocolate cake recipe. Curious to hear if others have tried it.

I have used melted chocolate in chocolate cake layers. It keeps them from being dry. Frances Kuyper(well know cake artist) told me about this. I don,t always, but sometimes.hth

Good to know! Thanks for the tip.

I only use melted chocolate for my chocolate cake recipe. I used the powder once and didnt like the taste and teture. I get a lot of complements on the flavor and moisture of my chocolate cake. But thats me and my prefence.
Try it with both and have a taste test not telling your family what you did. just ask them to tell you which cake they liked best. Thats what I do when Im trying a new recipe or flavor.

A cocoa recipe that has boiling water added to the cocoa will bake a cake that is just as moist as the melted chocolate. But you have to use a recipe that has specifically been developed for cocoa powder.

The cocoa has the added advantage of decreasing the gluten content from the flour, and that will make for a tender cake. Again, this will be true of the recipe has been developed for cocoa powder.

Fine cocoa powders are delicious. I have cakes that use melted chocolate and cocoa powder. Both are excellent.

I agree with bakingirene about reconstituting the cocoa powder.

Thanks for all your tips.. I have always used cocoa powder..Will give a try on the chocolate as well

I have a question regarding reconstituting the cocoa powder. If your recipe specifically doesn't call for doing this, how/when would you do it? I have few recipes that use cocoa powder (and are delicious) but am always looking for ways to make it better.

Thanks for your help.

Sheryl